Hoverfly Spotter Apr 26 Sightings – part 1

Potteric Carr, Hoverflies, Visit to Wentworth, My Garden & Down the Dearne.

The clocks went forward 29th March and despite storm Dave blowing through, I did manage to get out for some hoverfly spotting last week. Here are some of my highlights

Observations in the garden: 

Spring has been quietly rehearsing its rituals. Robins court in plain sight, the male offering mealworms plucked from the lawn, a tender exchange of trust. Dunnocks flirt in a flutter of wings, mercifully discreet this time, with no cloacal pecking to report. From the treetops, greenfinches spill their wheezing trills into the air, while great tits hurry about with urgent purpose — busy, busy, busy —rather than their familiar teacher teacher sounds heard, that will come later.

Queen bees drift low through the undergrowth, mostly buff-tailed, prospecting patiently for the promise of a nest. Nearby, a male Hairy-footed Flower Bee runs his daily circuit, diligently visiting every purple bloom, favouring the Lungwort in his search for a female. The Blackcaps have returned singing a tuneful melody and I am awakening to the sound of a dawn chorus right outside my bedroom window. 

Though the garden has brimmed with birdsong, hoverflies have been few, nudging me beyond the garden gate this week. But before we head out, there was a visit from a Spring Small Dung Beetle (Aphodius prodromus) a new species for me.  Welcome to the garden.

Hoverflies in Historical Books part 1

Hoverflies in Books Part 1

When I first started my blog, I found myself wondering whether hoverflies existed in old historical books.

Did they appear at all in early natural history texts?

I assumed that old identification guides might include a few illustrations, after all they were appearing in paintings (click here), but I also wanted to know whether they appeared in a scientific context as well. If they did appear in a scientific context in what way, what questions were being asked, and what were they adding to scientific debates in their day, if any. But the main question I wanted to answer was-

What is the oldest hoverfly ever recorded in print?

The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenburg in 1440, a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium, thereby transferring the ink. This device started the printing revolution, allowing books, pamphlets and newspapers to be produced quickly and cheaply. So that was my target could I get hoverflies in print going back to the 19th…16th…15th century! Join me to discover more as I leaf through dusty shelves in search of hidden wonders.

Here is what I have uncovered so far…..

Spring Smoothtail (Epistrophe eligans)

Spring Smoothtail (Epistrophe eligans) Wing Length 6.25-9.5mm Flight Apr-Jun peaking in May

Species to spot in April

For some people spring arrives with the coming of the blossom, for others the emergence of daffodils and crocuses, the call of the Chiffchaff or the first bees, but I look for the emergence of the Spring Smoothtail (Epistrophe eligans). It is a common hoverfly strongly associated with the blossom of spring. It also signifies the start of the hoverfly season with more species emerging in the coming weeks and months. It gladdens my heart when I see them.

Its an anthropophilic species, which means it thrives in human modified areas. If you don’t know much about hoverflies this is a good one to start looking for, being easy to find in your garden or just beyond your garden gate. Especially along a hedgerow or woodland edge, sunny and with a tree in full blossom. The more northerly you are in the UK the less likely you are to spot them, especially so in Scotland where they can be localised.

HoverflySpotter Mar 26 Sightings – part 2

Bagworms, BugSnug, Didymodons & Hoverflies part 2

Welcome back to spring everyone🌸 🌼 🌷🌱🦋 🌞

If you haven’t read part 1 where I spot Bagworms and build a BugSnug then please click here

Bush full of flies

On the sunniest day of the week, I decided to go to Wentworth Woodhouse, with the hope of spotting a few pollinators. There were plenty of birds, Jackdaws, Crows, and Rooks on the large lawns, whilst Red Kites and Buzzards were circling overhead. I even heard a Little Owl which although I didn’t see it, I suspect it might have been in one of the holes in the wall. Along the glades were plenty of butterflies Brimstone, Peacock, and several Commas. As with most shrubbery at the moment, they were covered with 7 Spot and Harlequin ladybirds, so seeing a 10 spotted ladybird was a welcome new record to ladybird sightings for the year.

HoverflySpotter Mar 26 Sightings – part 1

Bagworms, BugSnug, Didymodons & Hoverflies part 1

I think spring might have sprung, many of my followers and subscribers are enjoying the sun, finding spring flowers and blossom, newly emerged queen bees, hearing chiffchaffs call their name and their first hoverflies - its pretty much the same in my locality. I find I have been away from my desk, spending more hours in the garden or surrounding countryside and even awoke this morning to a most glorious dawn chorus. 

Welcome to the spring everyone🌸 🌼 🌷🌱🦋 🌞

So, what have I been up to this week.